Bustle under the arch tonight!

Excitement is palpable on Nome’s Front Street as we await the arrival of the 2013 Iditarod Champion. Race leader Mitch Seavey checked out of the final Safety checkpoint at 7:37pm, closely f0llowed by Aliy Zirkle at 8:02pm. An average run time from Safety to the finish in Nome can be between 2.5 and 3+ hours. Expect the first finish between 10:30pm and 11:00pm.

The race doesn’t stop with the champion. It’s going to be a busy night under the Burled Arch. The top 10 mushers left White Mountain within just five hours, some within minutes of each other. There will be several races within the race as the mushers file into town, fighting for their final place in the top 10. The final of the top 10 could be under the burled arch by 4am.